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It’s called “the back office” for a reason. Too often it’s like an unorganized closet that’s outa sight, outa mind. Not so at Alpine Physical Therapy.

To our management team, our staff, and our customers, the back office at Alpine is our lifeline. Far from outa mind, the efforts in our back office dovetail with our overriding desire to offer excellence in clinic interventions and patient satisfaction. Our business continues to hit new gears through the excellence put forth over the past 7 years of our seasoned Billing Specialist, Jeannette Kittredge.

Because she’s in the background quietly and effectively working her magic with clients and claims, Jeannette might not get the accolades that she deserves. At Alpine, however, we don’t let that happen. We’re all about team work and recognizing stellar efforts on the part of each star player.

So I can’t keep quiet about Jeannette’s most recent well-deserved award. In view of the fact that 99% of the claims she submitted in December on behalf of Alpine were error free, she was awarded the Gold Standard of Revenue Cycle for Medical Practices by Gateway EDI. Wow! Congratulations, Jeannette!

Through her sound strategies as the best Billing Specialist in our world, her attainment in reaching the Gold Standard produces the following value for our company:

Faster access to revenue

Better realization in gross revenue

Less cost associated with collection of revenue, effectively reducing overhead

Increased levels of patient satisfaction with fewer administrative questions at each visit

​ Alpine Physical Therapy continues to make a growing impact on our clients and community. It’s through the hard work of people on our team like Jeannette that make this possible. You’re a shining star, Jeannette, and we applaud you!​

Join Leah Versteegen, DPT of Alpine Physical Therapy for a straightforward understanding of sports nutrition from a physical therapist’s perspective. Notably, Leah has a Masters in Exercise Physiology (’03) and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy (’06) from the University of Montana.

​Patients with typical neck pain may benefit from a physical therapy program that includes upper neck and upper back manipulation. Potential benefits include less pain, better neck motion, and improved ability to perform daily activities. Although this treatment was very successful for this group of patients with neck pain, it may not be effective or even appropriate for all patients with neck pain.

Your physical therapist will perform a thorough evaluation to help determine if you are a good candidate for this treatment, as part of a program designed to help get rid of the aching in your neck. The benefits in this study were only measured for the first 48 hours after treatment; further research is needed to determine long-term benefits.

Here are the nuts and bolts of the supportive research study that appeared in this month’s Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy (2012;42(1):5-18. doi:10.2519/jospt.2012.3894).

In this study, James R. Dunning,DPT, MSc Manip Ther, FAAOMPT and fellow researchers treated 107 patients. About half of these patients received a manipulation of the neck, on the part closest to the head, and of the upper back. The other patients received manual therapy that mobilized the spine without using manipulation.

After 48 hours, the patients who received the manipulation treatment experienced a 58% decrease in pain and a 50% decrease in disability. By contrast, patients who received the mobilization treatment only had a 13% decrease in pain and actually showed a 13% increase in disability. In addition, the patients who received the manipulation had increased motion and improved control of their neck muscles compared to the patients in the mobilization group.

The researchers concluded that the combination of upper neck and back manipulation was more effective in the first 48 hours of treatment than the mobilization treatment.

Two of our physical therapists at Alpine Physical Therapy have studied extensively with Dr. James R. Dunning. To schedule an appointment and to get your neck feeling better quickly, you are invited to call our office at 406-251-2323.​Get more information on neck pain by visiting the patient resource section of our clinic website by clicking here.

Out with the old. In with the new. Applying this motto to your workouts may make all the difference for the New Year, especially if you’re seeking an efficient and effective way to burn fat and build lean and toned muscles.

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) isn’t exactly new, but it is accelerating its foothold among the ranks of fitness enthusiasts. It’s transforming the “old” model of exercise that requires between 45 and 90 minutes to ensure you get cardio, stretching, and toning.

The new model does it all in a fraction of the time. The beauty of HIIT is that you can get astounding results in as few as 4 minutes per day. Hard to believe? I know. I hear that all the time when introducing people to this form of exercise.

Yet some people are paying upwards of $15,000 for a device, called the ROM, whose inventors and proponents insist will get you ripped with just 4 minutes per day. You can check out the behemoth device (it barely fits in a typical living room) at fastexercise.com.

I’ve got a better and much less expensive way (visualize “Free”) to get started. Take a couple minutes to watch my video on this hot topic, and you’ll be well on your way to an inexpensive yet powerful way that develops extreme muscular endurance, burns massive calories, and helps you rapidly achieve your fitness goals for 2012. (If you are unable to view the video, click here.)

Here’s a brilliant presentation describing the number one antidote to numerous types of health problems, including death. I’m fascinated by how Doctor Michael Evans artfully presents this form of medicine in a fun and meaningful way.​It’s not too late to formulate some worthwhile health and fitness goals. Perhaps this video will give you the nudge to help you get started on your road to improved health and wellness.

Alpine Physical Therapy, we help a lot of people who may have challenges with pain, balance, or stamina who really want to take the next step toward a healthier tomorrow. Our south office is located in the Peak Health and Wellness Center, and patients who chose Alpine for their physical therapy get to experience all that the Center has to offer.

Yes. Yes you can achieve your health & fitness goals in 2012. Do so by setting goals, which are positive, rather than shackling yourself with resolutions, which are negative. You see, by setting goals, you immediately get the creative juices flowing that move you in the direction of your goals.

Making a resolution, on the other hand, puts you immediately on a negative footing. For example, resolving to quit smoking is a negative. Oppositely, setting a goal to compete in a triathlon this year is a more positive approach, one that will likely get you to ditch the cigs.

If you’re having a hard time defining your health & fitness goals for 2012, consider choosing one or more from the following:

Exercise three times per week.

Be able to walk or jog up to the “M” on Mount Sentinel.

Join and participate in a group exercise class.

Take the stairs instead of the elevator when possible.

Get help for ongoing aches or pains.

Compete in a triathlon this year.

Meditate or do relaxation exercises for 20 minutes a day.

Read two fitness-related articles per month.

Master and practice basic Tai Chi or yoga moves.

Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water each day.

Drop a dress or pant size.

Once you’ve established your health & fitness goals, write them down and refer to them often. Know that people who write their goals down maximize the likelihood of achieving their goals.

Another idea that may help is to tell a friend or two about your goals. Have them check in with you now and again to make sure you’re on track to achieve your goals this year.

Keep in mind that there’s always the chance you’ll get off track. You know how it goes; you get into a groove and then all of a sudden something comes up to knock you off track. You get sick. You get interrupted by an unexpected business trip or project. You get lazy (imagine that!).

Any number of things can trip you up. The key, however, is to prepare in advance for the time when you will get sidetracked. And know for certain that when that time comes, you’re going to get back up, brush yourself off, and get going again toward your goals.​From everyone at Alpine Physical Therapy, we wish for you a Happy New Year and every success in all your health and fitness endeavors.